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French honor

Chen Qigang, the Rossini Prize-winning composer an musical director of the 200 Beijing Olympic Games received the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on Dec 20. "He is one truly great musician," Sylvie Bermann, the French ambassador to China, said at the awards ceremony. "His music is honest, kind, full of wisdom and generosity. It deserves our love." Chen, who studied with Olivier Messiaen has said that modern French music is "a great influence". He told the small gathering that "the only thing I can do right now is to give".

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